CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18: ASHTON

When Aiden and Julian stepped into the dining hall, the first thing Aiden noticed was the way eyes seemed to follow him across the room. Students turned their heads, conversations paused mid-sentence, and fingers subtly pointed in his direction. Whispers floated through the air like faint currents of wind. At first, Aiden braced himself for the usual sharp glances filled with disdain, but this time something felt different. Instead of hostility, he saw curiosity flickering in their eyes.

It didn’t take a genius, or any sort of magic, for Aiden to understand why. The results of the testing earlier in the day must have spread like wildfire through the school by now. His name, his abilities, his unexpected potential—none of it was a secret anymore. Clearly, every student in the dining hall had heard the story.

Aiden let the looks wash over him without reaction. He had no desire to play into their curiosity or satisfy their whispers. Instead, he focused on collecting his tray of food. With Julian quietly beside him, the two of them scanned the crowded room until they spotted an empty table tucked slightly off to the side. They sat down, grateful for a spot that gave them a little distance from the stares, and began to eat in silence.

They hadn’t even gotten far into their meals when someone slid into the empty seat next to them. Aiden turned his head and blinked in surprise. Sitting there was a boy who couldn’t have been more than seventeen. Aiden immediately recognized the sharp, angular features and faint glimmer in his eyes as belonging to the fae race. He remembered him vaguely—one of those with a middle-grade potential.

Julian and Aiden both set down their forks, watching the boy carefully, wondering what he wanted.

The boy gave them a bright, disarming smile before speaking. "My name is Ashton Park," he said cheerfully. "I want to be your friend."

Both Aiden and Julian froze at the unexpected declaration. Aiden’s brows furrowed slightly. Of all things, this wasn’t what he had expected. No one had ever willingly sat beside them before, let alone asked to be their friend. In the eyes of most of the school, they were outsiders, the kind of people others avoided.

"You... want to be our friend?" Aiden asked cautiously, giving the boy a puzzled look.

Ashton nodded without hesitation. "Can’t I?"

There was no arrogance in his tone, only simple sincerity.

Aiden hesitated, then gave a small shrug. "Of course. You can, if that’s what you want."

The fae boy’s grin widened, lighting up his youthful face. For a fleeting moment, Aiden thought Ashton’s smile looked almost... cute. Perhaps it was his age, the untainted enthusiasm that shone through.

He turned his eyes to Julian, silently asking for his opinion. If Julian was against the idea, then Aiden would find a way to gently take back what he had said to Ashton. But Julian simply gave a nonchalant shrug, signaling that he didn’t mind. With that, the matter seemed settled.

The three of them returned to their food, though their peace was short-lived. Barely five minutes had passed before Aiden began to regret his agreement. Ashton, as it turned out, couldn’t seem to stop talking.

Questions spilled from his mouth one after the other, relentless and unfiltered. He leaned close to Aiden, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Why did you pretend to be human before, when you’re clearly not? You must have known, right?"

Aiden sighed, trying to remain patient. "My parents are human. At least, that’s what I believed. I don’t know where my bloodline comes from."

Instead of being satisfied with the answer, Ashton’s eyes lit up even more. "That’s incredible. We should go on a field trip, try to trace where your bloodline originates! Imagine discovering something no one else has. That would be so exciting."

Aiden almost dropped his fork. He stared at Ashton, utterly speechless. Of all the reactions he had ever imagined, never once had he thought someone might treat his mysterious lineage like a research project.

Shaking his head, Aiden turned back to his food, trying to ignore the absurdity. Unfortunately, Ashton had already shifted his attention toward Julian.

"Your family must be one of the great witch families," Ashton said eagerly. "That kind of high potential doesn’t come out of nowhere. Tell me about them, I bet they’re amazing."

Julian’s expression darkened. His voice was clipped when he responded. "Can we not talk about my family? I don’t like discussing them."

Ashton blinked, stunned by the refusal. "What kind of person doesn’t like bragging about his family?" He tilted his head, clearly baffled. "That’s so strange. But you know, the more you don’t want to tell me, the more I feel like finding out."

That was enough for Aiden. Setting his fork down, he fixed Ashton with a firm look. "He doesn’t talk about his family because he doesn’t want people digging into it. It’s personal. You can’t just go investigating on your own—it’s rude. And if you’re serious about wanting to do that, then I’m sorry, but we can’t be friends."

The words seemed to hit Ashton like a splash of cold water. His lips pressed into a pout, and he turned toward Julian with a sheepish look. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just... I like discovering things that people keep hidden. It gives me a thrill. I didn’t realize it would bother you so much."

Aiden studied him carefully. For the first time, he realized Ashton wasn’t being deliberately cruel. The boy’s curiosity wasn’t meant to offend—it was simply how he was wired. He had the strange kind of obsession that made him chase secrets without understanding the weight they carried.

Julian seemed to realize it too. His tense expression softened, and after a moment, he gave Ashton a small nod. "It’s fine. Just... don’t push."

Ashton’s smile returned immediately, though before he could launch into another stream of chatter, Aiden quickly cut him off. "Ashton, enough. Stop talking for now, let’s eat in peace."

Ashton pouted again, but to Aiden’s relief, he stayed quiet. For the first time since they had sat down, the table finally returned to silence.

The three of them were nearly finished with their meal when a sudden stir rippled through the cafeteria. Voices rose, chairs scraped back, and the sound of hushed admiration filled the air. Aiden, Julian, and Ashton all lifted their heads from their plates, curious about the commotion.

When Aiden’s gaze shifted toward the entrance, he understood immediately.

A girl was walking into the dining hall with an air of absolute confidence, her chin lifted and chest slightly puffed as though the entire room belonged to her. She was stunning, undeniably beautiful, and her presence demanded attention. Two other girls followed close behind her, both striking in their own right, though neither could compare to the radiance of the one in front.

Aiden’s eyes lingered on them for only a moment before recognition struck. One of the girls trailing behind was familiar. His chest tightened as he realized it was Julian’s stepsister, Lila.

Without meaning to, Aiden’s eyes flicked toward Julian.

Aiden noticed Julian’s expression shift. His friend’s eyes had narrowed into a sharp frown, fixed directly on Lila Hayes. At That moment Aiden followed Julian’s line of sight back to lila, he realized that Lila had caught them looking. Instead of pretending not to notice, she let out a scornful little snicker, her lips curling as if she had just uncovered a private joke at their expense. Heat rushed to Aiden’s cheeks, and he quickly turned away, pretending to be interested in the opposite corner of the room.

Julian, however, didn’t move. His frown lingered, his gaze still locked on Lila, though his posture was rigid with restraint. Aiden tugged lightly on his sleeve, silently urging him to let it go before things drew unnecessary attention.

Meanwhile, Ashton, who had noticed nothing at all, was practically bouncing with excitement. His eyes were bright as he pointed across the room at the three young women standing together, drawing all the admiration in the hall.

"That is Seraphina Sinclair, Lila Hayes, and Thalia Bexley," Ashton announced, his tone filled with the enthusiasm of someone about to reveal priceless gossip. "They’re like the ’it girls’ of the witch race. All three of them are in the Student Union, and do you know what’s even more incredible? That lady in the middle, Seraphina Sinclair, is the fiancée of the one and only Ryker. Isn’t she amazing?"

Neither Aiden nor Julian had asked for the introduction, but Ashton’s words had the desired effect. Aiden’s attention snapped toward the woman Ashton had so proudly pointed out. Seraphina stood elegantly between Lila and Thalia, her presence impossible to ignore. Everything about her exuded confidence, her beauty polished and undeniable.

Aiden’s heart twisted unexpectedly as realization struck. So that was Ryker’s fiancée. The thought tasted bitter in his mouth. For the first time, he understood why Ryker, despite being so young, had already chosen to get engaged. With a woman like Seraphina Sinclair, there was little left to question. She was breathtaking.

A bitter smile tugged at Aiden’s lips before he could stop it. He tried to school his features into something neutral, but Julian, who knew him too well, noticed immediately. Without hesitation, Julian reached for his hand under the table and squeezed it gently.

"It’s alright," Julian murmured, his voice low enough that only Aiden could hear. "You’ll forget about him in no time."

Aiden blinked at him, startled by both the certainty in Julian’s tone and the quiet warmth behind it. After a moment, he forced a small smile in return. "It’s okay," he replied softly. "I’m fine."

Julian gave his hand one last squeeze before letting go, though his eyes remained on Aiden for a moment longer, searching for cracks in his composure.

Ashton, who had been watching the two of them with growing curiosity, tilted his head. His sharp instincts for gossip were already buzzing. He was certain there was something happening between them, something unspoken, and his desire to know every secret refused to stay quiet.

"What are you two talking about?" he asked suddenly, leaning closer with an inquisitive gleam in his eye.

Aiden opened his mouth, unsure of what excuse to give, but he didn’t even have the chance to speak. A sharp, mocking voice sliced through the air, dripping with disdain.

"Well, if it isn’t the losers," Lila said, her words cold and cruel, each syllable laced with scorn.